7-foot center and former NBA Draft pick James Nnaji commits to Baylor

7-foot center James Nnaji has committed to Baylor and will play the second half of the season with the Bears, a source told On3. He’s been granted four years of eligibility by the NCAA.

The 21-year-old Nigerian big man was selected 31st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, but his rights were moved to Charlotte. Despite being drafted, he never signed a standard NBA contract. In 2024, his rights were moved once again, this time to the New York Knicks, as part of the three-team Karl-Anthony Towns trade.

After not appearing in an NBA regular-season game, Nnaiji continued his professional career overseas, most recently playing for FC Barcelona in the Spanish Liga ACB and the EuroLeague before mutually parting ways with the team in August.

Earlier this year, Nnaji appeared in NBA Summer League with the Knicks, averaging 3.2 points and 3.6 rebounds across five games.

Nnaji was previously a free agent before landing at Baylor. He joins a Bears’ team that has been hit hard by injuries, particularly in the frontcourt. Baylor has been without freshman forward Maikcol Perez (knee) and center Juslin Bodo Bodo (arm) all season.

With a 7-foot-7 wingspan, Nnaji gives Scott Drew a much-needed interior presence. He brings experience, physicality, and a defensive-minded skill set, along with rim-running and rebounding ability, to a depleted front line.